As the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches on September 11, 2026, a Change.org petition with more than 2,000 signatures is calling for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to be barred from the Ground Zero ceremony. Petition organizer Giovanni Galante, who lost his wife in the 2001 attacks, says the objections stem from Mamdani's public record and alleged associations with people who downplayed the attacks. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum stresses the event is deliberately nonpartisan and that officials attend only to bear witness; they are not scheduled to speak.
Change.org Petition Seeks to Bar Mayor Zohran Mamdani From 25th‑Anniversary 9/11 Commemoration
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September 11, 2026, will mark the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan and claimed nearly 3,000 lives. As officials prepare for the Ground Zero commemoration, a Change.org petition urging that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not attend the ceremony has gathered more than 2,000 signatures.
One of the petition organizers, Giovanni Galante — who lost his wife in the 2001 attack — told The New York Post the group's objections are rooted in what they describe as Mamdani's public record. According to Galante, the petition cites a perceived failure to explicitly acknowledge the full horror of 9/11 and alleged associations with individuals who have downplayed the attacks or made statements suggesting the United States was to blame.
"Our objection is based on [Mamdani's] public record — his failure to meaningfully acknowledge the horror of that day, and his employment of, support for, or association with individuals who have minimized 9/11, defended terrorists, or even suggested America 'deserved' the attacks," Giovanni Galante said. "This day is sacred to us."
The petition page lists a variety of complaints about Mamdani. Supporters of the petition say they believe his presence at the Ground Zero ceremony would be hurtful to survivors and families of victims.
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9/11 Memorial Emphasizes Nonpartisan Observance
Julie Wood, a spokesperson for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, told the Post the commemoration is intentionally kept free of partisan politics. "Remembering those we lost on 9/11 should never be a partisan issue," she said, noting that government officials from across the political spectrum — including presidents, governors and mayors — have attended past ceremonies to bear witness. Wood added that officials are not scheduled to deliver remarks and are asked to remain in a designated area during the observance.
"[Our organization has] intentionally worked to keep the commemoration free of politics because remembering those we lost on 9/11 should never be a partisan issue," Julie Wood said.
News reports cited the petition and the Memorial's statement but did not include a statement from Mayor Mamdani's office. The debate highlights tensions that can arise when public memorials intersect with contemporary politics, particularly on milestone anniversaries.
What to watch: Whether the petition gains further momentum ahead of September 11, 2026, and whether city or memorial officials respond further about guest lists and ceremony protocols as the anniversary approaches.
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